Fantasy Football Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

The 2023-24 NFL season is about to begin which means fantasy football is back! Most fantasy football team managers don’t make major lineup moves in the first week of the season. Typically managers will start the players they drafted in the earlier rounds. However, since every week is important it would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one because he was drafted to be a starter. Here are fantasy football week 1 wide receiver rankings.

*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve List

(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)

Key:

Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting WR1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High WR2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 territory.

Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low WR2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deeper League Flex- a player who has starting value in deeper leagues. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Upside Player- a player who is boom or bust. This player can exceed expectations in a given week or could flop and be the reason why someone lost their fantasy matchup.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Category	Name	Opponent	Ranking
Must Start	Justin Jefferson	vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers	WR1
Must Start	Ja’Marr Chase	vs Cleveland Browns	WR2
Must Start	Tyreek Hill	vs Los Angeles Chargers	WR3
Starting WR1	Amon-Ra St. Brown	vs Kansas City Chiefs	WR4
Starting WR1	CeeDee Lamb	vs New York Giants	WR5
Starting WR1	Davante Adams	vs Denver Broncos	WR6
Starting WR1	D.K. Metcalf	vs Los Angeles Rams	WR7
Starting WR1	Stefon Diggs	vs New York Jets	WR8
High WR2	Chris Olave	vs Tennessee Titans	WR9
High WR2	A.J. Brown	vs New England Patriots	WR10
High WR2	Garrett Wilson	vs Buffalo Bills	WR11
High WR2	Jaylen Waddle*	vs Los Angeles Chargers	WR12
High WR2	DeVonta Smith	vs New England Patriots	WR13
High WR2	Keenan Allen	vs Miami Dolphins	WR14
Starting WR2	Tee Higgins	vs Cleveland Browns	WR15
Starting WR2	Deebo Samuel	vs Pittsburgh Steelers	WR16
Starting WR2	Chris Godwin	vs Minnesota Vikings	WR17
Starting WR2	Calvin Ridley	vs Indianapolis Colts	WR18
Starting WR2	Amari Cooper	vs Cincinnati Bengals	WR19
Low WR2	Tyler Lockett	vs Los Angeles Rams	WR20
Low WR2	Diontae Johnson	vs San Francisco 49ers	WR21
Low WR2	Terry McLaurin*	vs Arizona Cardinals	WR22
Low WR2	D.J. Moore	vs Green Bay Packers	WR23
Low WR2	DeAndre Hopkins	vs New Orleans Saints	WR24
Low WR2	Christian Watson*	vs Chicago Bears	WR25
Low WR2	Mike Evans*	vs Minnesota Vikings	WR26
Flex	Drake London	vs Carolina Panthers	WR27
Flex	Courtland Sutton	vs Las Vegas Raiders	WR28
Flex	Mike Williams	vs Miami Dolphins	WR29
Flex	Odell Beckham Jr.	vs Houston Texans	WR30
Flex	Marquise “Hollywood” Brown*	vs Washington Commanders	WR31
Flex	Michael Pittman Jr.	vs Jacksonville Jaguars	WR32
Flex	Jahan Dotson	vs Arizona Cardinals	WR33
Flex	Christian Kirk	vs Indianapolis Colts	WR34
Flex	Brandon Aiyuk	vs Pittsburgh Steelers	WR35
Flex	Michael Thomas	vs Tennessee Titans	WR36
Deep League Flex	Brandin Cooks	vs New York Giants	WR37
Deep League Flex	Jordan Addison	vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers	WR38
Deep League Flex	Gabe Davis	vs New York Jets	WR39
Deep League Flex	Adam Thielen	vs Atlanta Falcons	WR40
Deep League Flex	Van Jefferson	vs Seattle Seahawks	WR41
Deep League Flex	Jakobi Meyers	vs Denver Broncos	WR42
Deep League Flex	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	vs Los Angeles Rams	WR43
Deep League Flex	George Pickens	vs San Francisco 49ers	WR44
Deep League Flex	JuJu Smith-Schuster	vs Philadelphia Eagles	WR45
Deep League Flex	Nico Collins	vs Baltimore Ravens	WR46
Deep League Flex	Skyy Moore	vs Detroit Lions	WR47
Deep League Flex	Zay Flowers	vs Houston Texans	WR48
Upside Play	Elijah Moore	vs Cincinnati Bengals	WR49
Upside Play	Kadarius Toney*	vs Detriot Lions	WR50
Upside Play	DJ Chark*	vs Atlanta Falcons	WR51
Upside Play	Treylon Burks	vs New Orleans Saints	WR52
Upside Play	Hunter Renfrow	vs Denver Broncos	WR53
Upside Play	Curtis Samuel	vs Arizona Cardinals	WR54
Upside Play	Allen Lazard*	vs Buffalo Bills	WR55
Upside Play	Marquez Valdes-Scantling	vs Detroit Lions	WR56
Upside Play	Rondale Moore	vs Washington Commanders	WR57
Upside Play	Michael Gallup	vs New York Giants	WR58
Upside Play	DeVante Parker*	vs Philadelphia Eagles	WR59
Upside Play	Tyler Boyd	vs Cleveland Browns	WR60
Upside Play	Marvin Mims Jr.	vs Las Vegas Raiders	WR61
Upside Play	Darnell Mooney	vs Green Bay Packers	WR62
Upside Play	Jonathan Mingo	vs Atlanta Falcons	WR63
Upside Play	Romeo Doubs*	vs Chicago Bears	WR64
Upside Play	Zay Jones	vs Indianapolis Colts	WR65
Upside Play	Parris Campbell	vs Dallas Cowboys	WR66
Upside Play	Jayden Reed	vs Chicago Bears	WR67
Upside Play	Rashod Bateman	vs Houston Texans	WR68
Upside Play	Marvin Jones Jr.	vs Kansas City Chiefs	WR69
Upside Play	Alec Pierce	vs Jacksonville Jaguars	WR70
Upside Play	Tutu Atwell	vs Seattle Seahawks	WR71
Upside Play	K.J. Osborn	vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers	WR72
Upside Play	Isaiah Hodgins	vs Dallas Cowboys	WR73
Leave on the Bench	Quentin Johnston	vs Miami Dolphins	WR74
Leave on the Bench	Chase Claypool*	vs Green Bay Packers	WR75
Leave on the Bench	Robert Woods	vs Baltimore Ravens	WR76
Leave on the Bench	Mecole Hardman*	vs Buffalo Bills	WR77
Leave on the Bench	Donovan Peoples-Jones	vs Cincinnati Bengals	WR78
Leave on the Bench	Wan’Dale Robinson*	vs Dallas Cowboys	WR79
Leave on the Bench	Josh Reynolds	vs Kansas City Chiefs	WR80
Leave on the Bench	Mack Hollins	vs Carolina Panthers	WR81
Leave on the Bench	Darius Slayton	vs Dallas Cowboys	WR82
Leave on the Bench	Puka Nacua	vs Seattle Seahawks	WR83
Leave on the Bench	Kendrick Bourne	vs Philadelphia Eagles	WR84
Leave on the Bench	Rasheed Shaheed	vs Tennessee Titans	WR85
Leave on the Bench	Allen Robinson	vs San Francisco 49ers	WR86
Leave on the Bench	Rashee Rice	vs Detroit Lions	WR87
Leave on the Bench	Tank Dell	vs Baltimore Ravens	WR88
Leave on the Bench	Michael Wilson	vs Washington Commanders	WR89
Leave on the Bench	Randall Cobb	vs Buffalo Bills	WR90
Leave on the Bench	Braxton Berrios	vs Los Angeles Chargers	WR91
Leave on the Bench	Kalif Raymond	vs Kansas City Chiefs	WR92
Leave on the Bench	Nick Westbrook-Ikhine	vs New Orleans Saints	WR93
Leave on the Bench	Josh Downs	vs Jacksonville Jaguars	WR94
Leave on the Bench	Sterling Shepard	vs Dallas Cowboys	WR95
Leave on the Bench	Joshua Palmer	vs Miami Dolphins	WR96
Leave on the Bench	Trey Palmer	vs Minnesota Vikings	WR97
Leave on the Bench	Cedric Tillman	vs Cincinnati Bengals	WR98
Leave on the Bench	John Metchie III	vs Baltimore Ravens	WR99
Leave on the Bench	Jalin Hyatt	vs Dallas Cowboys	WR100
Leave on the Bench	Demario Davis	vs Philadelphia Eagles	WR101
Leave on the Bench	Greg Dortch	vs Washington Commanders	WR102

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

WR12 Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle has been dealing with an abdominal injury. He is expected to play this week. However, if Waddle were to miss Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers Braxton Berrios would become WR73 between Quentin Johnston and Chase Claypool. Cedrick Wilson becomes WR91 between Randall Cobb and Kalif Raymond.

WR22 Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

Terry McLaurin has been dealing with a toe injury that puts his season debut in jeopardy. If he was to miss Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals Jahan Dotson moves up to WR25 between Christian Watson and Mike Evans. Curtis Samuel moves up to WR38 between Brandin Cooks and Jordan Addison.

Green Bay Packers Wide Receivers: WR25 Christian Watson & WR64 Romeo Doubs

Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are both dealing with hamstring injuries. At this point of the week, both are uncertain to play in Green Bay’s opening game. If Christian Watson misses Week 1 against the Chicago Bears and Romeo Doubs plays then Doubs becomes the WR41 between Van Jefferson and Jakobi Meyers. Jayden Reed moves up to WR54 between Hunter Renfrow and Curtis Samuel. Dontayvion Wicks becomes WR97 between Trey Palmer and Cedric Tillman.

If Doubs misses Week 1 against the Chicago Bears and Christian Watson plays Jayden Reed moves up to WR62 between Marvin Mims Jr. and Darnell Mooney. Dontayvion Wicks would become WR97 between Trey Palmer and Cedric Tillman.

If both Watson and Doubs miss Week 1 against the Chicago Bears then Jayden Reed becomes WR33 between Jahan Dotson and Christian Kirk. Dontayvion Wicks becomes WR77 between Mecole Hardman and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

WR26 Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Evans is expected to play in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers season opener despite dealing with a hamstring injury. If he does miss Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings Chris Godwin moves up to WR14 between DeVonta Smith and Keenan Allen. Trey Palmer moves up to WR76 between Robert Woods and Mecole Hardman. Deven Thompkins or Rakim Jarrett would be Tampa’s third receiver in three-receiver sets.

WR31 Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Arizona Cardinals

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was limited in practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury. If he was to miss Arizona’s Week 1 game against the Washington Commanders Rondale Moore moves up to WR51 between DJ Chark and Treylon Burks. Michael Wilson moves up to WR83 between Puka Nacua and Kendrick Bourne. Greg Dortch moves up to WR97 between Joshua Palmer and Trey Palmer.

WR50 Kadarius Toney, Kansas City Chiefs

Kadarius Toney missed time during the preseason due to a knee injury. Reports have stated that Toney is expected in the first game of the 2023-24 season. If Toney suffers a setback and does not play against the Detroit Lions Skyy Moore moves up to WR39 between Jordan Addison and Gabe Davis. Marquez Valdes-Scantling moves up to WR51 between DJ Chark and Treylon Burks. Rashee Rice moves up to WR83 between Darius Slayton and Puka Nacua.

Carolina Panthers Wide Receivers: WR40 Adam Thielen & WR51 DJ Chark, Carolina Panthers

Adam Thielen was limited in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. DJ Chark has been dealing with a hamstring injury for a few weeks. It is not certain if they will be available for the Carolina Panthers’ first game of the season. If Thielen misses Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons and Chark plays then Chark will move up to WR38 between Brandin Cooks and Jordan Addison. Jonathan Mingo moves up to WR51 between Kadarius Toney and Treylon Burks.

If Thielen is active and Chark was to miss Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons Adam Thielen moves up to WR38 between Michael Thomas and Brandin Cooks. Jonathan Mingo moves up to WR51 between Kadarius Toney and Treylon Burks.

If both are inactive this week Jonathan Mingo moves up to WR37 between Michael Thomas and Brandin Cooks. Terrace Marshall Jr. becomes the WR71 between Alec Pierce and Tutu Atwell.

New York Jets Wide Receivers: WR55 Allen Lazard & WR77 Mecole Hardman

Both new additions to the New York Jets receiving core Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman are dealing with injuries. Allen Lazard is dealing with a shoulder injury. Mecole Hardman is dealing with a finger injury. If Lazard misses this week’s game and Hardman plays then Hardman becomes the WR67 between Parris Campbell and Jayden Reed. Randall Cobb moves up to WR82 between Darius Slayton and Puka Nacua.

If Hardman misses this week’s game and Lazard plays them Randall Cobb moves up to WR81 between Darius Slayton and Nacua.

If both Lazard and Hardman miss this week’s game then Randall Cobb moves up to WR73 between Quentin Johnston and Chase Claypool.

WR59 DeVante Parker, New England Patriots

DeVante Parker missed some practice time last week with an undisclosed injury. He returned to practice on Monday which is a good sign that he should play this weekend. If DeVante Parker misses Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles Kendrick Bourne moves up to WR73 between Isaiah Hodgins and Quentin Johnston. Demario Davis moves up to WR95 between Josh Downs and Sterling Shepard.

WR74 Chase Claypool, Chicago Bears

Chase Claypool has been dealing with a hamstring injury. He is expected to be able to play in the Bears’ season opener. If Claypool misses Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers Velus Jones Jr. or Equanimeous St. Brown would be Chicago’s third receiver.

WR78 Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants

Wan’Dale Robinson is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season. There is a chance that Robinson is active for the Giants’ first game of the season. If Robinson misses Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys the other Giants receivers should have larger roles in the offense.

Players that are currently not expected to play

Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos

Jerry Jeudy suffered a hamstring injury that is expected to hold him out for the first few weeks of the season. However, he hasn’t been ruled out for Denver’s season opener. If Jeudy could suit up for Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders he would slot in at WR30 between Mike Williams and Odell Beckham Jr. Courtland Sutton would move down to WR38 between Michael Thomas and Brandin Cooks.

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